COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor M. Johansson

"To ask the Chief Executive to provide a full report on all actions taken by the Council in relation to the Traveller families on the site in Balgaddy, including any correspondence with other Local Authorities, and to outline how the decision was taken to go to court?" 

REPLY:

The Traveller Accommodation Unit was made aware of a number of caravans encroaching on a Council owned site on Sunday the 11th of November 2018. Notices under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1992, as amended by the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 and the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 were served on the illegal occupiers concerned on Monday 12th November 2018, instructing them to vacate the site.

Following the failure of the illegal occupiers to vacate the site, the Council made a subsequent attempt to remove the illegal occupiers on the 28th November 2018 but were unsuccessful.

In mid-December, the Council was approached by the Irish Traveller Movement and Clondalkin Travellers Development Group who wished to negotiate a mediated withdrawal on behalf of the illegal occupiers from the site. A withdrawal date from the site on or before the 11th January 2019, was agreed between the parties.

When Council staff attended the site on the 11th January 2019, the agreement reached was not adhered to with the illegal occupiers refusing to vacate the site.

Council officials met with the families in the offices of Clondalkin Traveller Development Group on the 13th February 2019. Only 3 of the families attended. Based on the information provided, the Council sought confirmation from other local authorities with regard to their accommodation history /applications for social housing.

On the 27th February 2019, correspondence was issued to the illegal occupiers of the site. The correspondence advised that if the site was not vacated on or before 4pm on Friday 8th March, the Council would commence legal proceedings for the purpose of securing vacant possession of the site and the removal of all vehicles, caravans and other structures therefrom.

The site was not vacated on the 8th March 2019 and the matter is now with the County Solicitor.